C E Community Engagement Core o n • Mission: to develop and adapt best practices to work with residents m g a m and local leaders of affected communities to facilitate prevention and g intervention strategies that result in community‐level reductions in u exposure to PAHs and other Superfund site pollutants n e i m • Specific Aims t e • Provide multi‐directional communications mechanisms among the y n BCM‐Rice SRP's internal and external stakeholders t • Assist and support BCM‐Rice SRP projects and cores through CE communications activities C • Support community projects—informed by and involving staff from o our projects and cores—to reduce exposures to Superfund PAHs r • Rigorously evaluate CE activities and disseminate best practices e Baylor‐Rice Superfund Research Program
C E Background o n m g • 15 Superfund sites in a m Harris County g u • In 2018, Bayou City n e Waterkeeper filed suit i m t e against the City of y n Houston in the U.S. t District Court for over 9,300 potential Clean C Water Act violations o r e Baylor‐Rice Superfund Research Program
C E Background o n m g • Historically high rates of Preterm a m Birth g u • PTB complications include n e i m chronic lung disease deficits t e later in life y n • Overarching hypothesis is that t maternal exposure to PAHs increases risk of PTBs and C augments major morbidities o r (e.g., lung disease deficits) e Kahr MK, Suter MA, Ballas J, et al. Preterm birth and its associations with residence and ambient vehicular traffic exposure. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016;215(1):111.e1‐111.e10. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2016.01.171 Baylor‐Rice Superfund Research Program
Superfund Sites and Target Communities C E o n • Target Communities surrounding the Ship m g Channel and Superfund sites a m • Harrisburg/ Manchester, Galena Park, g u Channelview, Pasadena, Deer Park, and the n e Highlands i m • EJ communities impacted by heavy t e industrialization, poverty, and environmental y n health effects of Superfund sites t Race/Ethnicity (data: ACS, 2016) Median ↓ US Poverty HS diploma or Income Level (12.3%) Higher Neighborhood Population White Black Asian Other Hispanic C Harrisburg 53,280 62.5 3.0 2.8 31.7 87.9 37,763 22.5 51.9 o Galena Park 11,119 78.2 5.6 0.1 16.1 83.8 44,467 21.5 58.8 Channelview 38,289 55.9 15.3 1.6 27.2 60.3 53,744 19.7 68.6 r Pasadena 149,043 75.3 2.3 2.1 20.3 62.2 48,607 19.6 71.3 e Deer Park 32,010 86.2 1.5 1.5 10.8 26.3 78,703 8.6 87.6 Highlands 7,522 84.2 3.1 0.4 12.3 24.8 58,295 17.3 82.8 Baylor‐Rice Superfund Research Program
Multi‐directional Communication Mechanisms C E o n • Have remained in contact with SAB, albeit no face‐to‐face meetings: m g activities include virtual meeting with CEC, surveys, interviews a m • Environmental Justice Encuentros g u • Reflects concept of encounter or discovery to convene n e communities, researchers, policy makers, and others in small groups i m • Used to promote community and research communications t e • Increase use of EH science as basis for public health advocacy y n • Six Encuentros : focus on health and EH in context of disparities t • Purpose: identify and prioritize issues and road ahead • Introduce concept of Community Science Workshops to facilitate C o community and research projects r • Next steps: synthesize meeting outcomes to inform Center e research projects and potential new research (CSWs) Baylor‐Rice Superfund Research Program
Community Project: Prenatal Education on C E o n environmental Exposures during Pregnancy Study (PEEPS) m g • Linked to projects: Role of PAH Exposures in Preterm Birth (Aagaard) and a m Increased Risk of Premature Infants to Chronic Lung Disease (Moorthy) g u • In conjunction with community clinic partner, HOPE Clinic n e • Purpose: to reduce maternal environmental exposures to toxicants i m through a prenatal education program to learn how to: t e • Reduce exposures from seafood y n • Understand risk to self and child t • Make informed nutrition choices • Received IRB approval, IRB # 20‐0026 C • Updating curricula and educational o materials to reflect new guidelines r • Written materials will be translated into multiple languages e • Initial prenatal education classes will be piloted at HOPE Clinic Baylor‐Rice Superfund Research Program
Community Project: Prenatal Education on C E o n environmental Exposures during Pregnancy Study (PEEPS) m g • Upon curriculum completion: a m • Series of short videos related to seafood selection and preparation g u • Already shot footage with our (at the time) very pregnant colleague n e who graciously volunteered to help i m • Obtained use of a food prep station with built‐in t e video capabilities to teach preparation and cooking y n t C o r e Baylor‐Rice Superfund Research Program
C E Community Project: Urban Gardening o n • Linked to projects: Pyolytic Conversion of PAHs in m g Contaminated Sediments (Alvarez) and ID of PAHs/PACs a m g u in Environmental Samples Using Ultracompact n e Spectroscopy Platforms (Halas) i m • Urban soil frequently contaminated. Prolonged t e flooding in Hurricane Harvey; many communities y n adjacent to Superfund sites inundated t • Air pollutants contribute to surface soil contamination • Exposures through skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion C • CEC to teach gardening workshops on prevention, o r nutrition, and alternative methods of raising fruits and Hydroponic garden system e vegetables (e.g., hydroponic garden systems) to be provided for community members Baylor‐Rice Superfund Research Program
C E Community Project: Urban Gardening o n • Developed educational curriculum and materials m g • Supply list a m • Detailed instructions for preparation and assembly g u n e • Instructional video i m • Train the Trainer class scheduled for students targeted t e for recruitment for assisting with dissemination and y n providing training workshops t • Each participant will receive kit with pre‐prepared supplies and handbook for assembly C • Workshop will focus on assembly of demonstration o r system (completed systems would be difficult to e transport) Baylor‐Rice Superfund Research Program
C E Community Project: PAH Mapping and Sampling o n • Example: Houston‐Galveston Area Council Map of PCBs and Dioxins m g • Have collected data on PAH sampling for similar mapping project a m • Also working to identify potential sources of water samples for analysis g u to inform outreach, research, and prevention efforts n e i m t e y n t C o r e Baylor‐Rice Superfund Research Program
C E PAH Infographics o n m g a m g u n e i m t e y n t C o r e Baylor‐Rice Superfund Research Program
C E Next Steps o n m g • Meet with stakeholder groups to plan November Encuentros a m • Synthesize Encuentro findings to inform Center research projects and g u potential new research (CSWs) n e • Revamp Prenatal Education curriculum materials i m t e • Draft scripts for creation of videos and short animations to teach y n about risk associated with seafood consumption t • Train the Trainer Hydroponic Gardening Workshop scheduled for November for students/trainees C • In discussions with Toxicology faculty member to initiate PAH sampling o of soil, local waterways, and seafood to provide information education r and outreach informed by specific local data e Baylor‐Rice Superfund Research Program
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